Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-03
AIR BRAKES.
PrecaustOns Taken BY BOstoa Rail
roads against Accidents.
Prom the Boston Herald.

4
I! roads avntnss Accidents.
| Prom the Boston Herald
The first account OF the recent accident on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Washington stated
that the engineer found that the AIR brakes would
not work properly" and before the hand brake.
could De applied the train was wrecked Thess
statements naturally called attention 10 the sub
)ect OF air brakes and people began inquirng II t
Is true that these powerful appliances Cor stopping
passenger trains cannot be relied upon. The
great majority OF the leading railroads have
! adopted the Westinghouse automatic air brake
for their passenger trains. and the railroad COM
missioners OF this State indorse it as sremarkabls
alike for its simplicity and effectiveness" But
is evident that there times hen the automatic
brake fails, and then the prompt application
The possibility OF the automatic brake fallins a
understood by all railroad oifcials and the rllles
| OF all the roads are designed 10 provide for the
safety OF the trains In such The crossing of
one railroad by another at grade Is always regarded
as dangerous, and consequently the greatest care
Is taken 10 render such as safe possible sys-
tenn OF interlocHlng signals and switches has been
established at several such cruSslncs. bur even
trains slow down 50 as to be under perfect cenraI
ready 10 stop at any instant Where the inter-
locking system is not established engineermen are
compelled by law 70 bring their engines 10 a nun
stop 200 feet from the crossing. Hut this proyi-
Sion OF law does not do away with The danger. Tor
II the brakes fail 10 work the train may rush along
other road The dangerous Character on
,n,ls an, .dm,n, Inc northern cross
len the predictions OF terrible disaster
there some day. Happily, these predictions have
thus far failed or fulfillment, but how soon the
fatality may come no one can tell The authorities
or the Boston and Maine anu fltchburg roads are
aive 70 the danger, and oy strict rules they seek
road the stops at the crossings are made through
the use OF the automatic brake, but every brake
man Is ordered TO be at his post on the platform
the crossing is approached, ready 10 apply the
hand brakes II they are called for by the engineer,
ON the western division OF the Boston ana Maine
stopping the train at the crossings. but on the
eastern division the reliance Is upon the
automatic brake, supplemented, however by
the presence or the brakemen ON the platforms
ready 20 apply the hand brakes In case u
the automatic brake, with similar rules for the
Drakemen TO be ready 10 apply the hand brakes
Inc Boston and Providence trains are brought
10 a stop AT crossings by the Use Of hand-braAes
only. Whether lt Is best 70 place reliance upon
The operation OF the automatic brakes, even when
supplemented by the presence OF the brakemen
upon the platforms, at the special points or
danger, Is evidently a question with railroad
managers In such reliance is best II Is Important
tnat there DE sufficient number OF brakemen TO
90 the work required, and hence the law which
requires that every passenger train shall have
complied with, ana the duties OF baggage-ma ster
or ueket-taker should not be put upon them
Next 10 the "know-nothing" crossings termi.
nal stations the most Dangerous popts
upon all railroads. In olden times when .'n,ing
Ssrs ssn, Sere made and passenger trains
the engine run on on side track, hand brakes
were the only reliance Ia stopping trains before
| the end OF the track was reached. Happily that
| dangerous practice Is now done away with. though
even now trains OF empty cars are pushed into the
station oy switching engines, and Instances
oy no means rare where such trains have Knocked
over the primitive 'bunters" at the end OF the
tracks and even invaded the head houses 10 the
The trains OF the various roads as they enter
terminal stations are controlled. q rule, in the
ing" crossings, and the same danger exists that
| the application OF the hand brakes may not he
quick enough when reliance is first placed upon
the automatic brakes and they fail
POWderly Wants q New Governmcns.
TAKING A DEsroNDENT VIEW OF THE TIhEs-Hs
WHITES OF GATLING GUNS.
T. v. Powderly nlls nearly a whole page OF 7As
Journal Of United Labor, issued TO-DAY, with q
series or signed editorials. In the course OF Q
three-column article demanding q new Govern
ment he says:
II is openly charged that a majority OF the
United States Senate their election TO railroad
| or national bank influence. This statement has
never been contradicted. 1f IL is not true, the
| men SO charged owe 1t TO themselves and 10 the
made The charges and prove that they have
| wronged them; either that or resign from the
positions which their very presence dlsgracea
Senate owe their seats TO such Influences, how
can we expect TO have the Constitution and laws
by the people VINO witness such a damns-
bic bartenng away OF the rights OF tho
Government Of the United STATES States could pus
| q stop 70 gambling In the necessaries OF ufe, 70
gambling In railroad securities (or lack OF securi-
ties; one would naturally suppose that the Gov.
| eminent could create a panic among the men oc
Wall street. But such Is not the case, for Wall
| hours In spite or the Government, and then COM
pei the Government TO come TO the aid or the Shy.
locks who are sklnning the people. How long viii
a men hat
allows men TO put up the nations rights TO the
highest bidder? How long Will the people con-
unue TO uphold q government that turns an ear
single to the voice or wealth and passes by on the
| other side when the voice OF the common people
| Is raised In behalf or justice? How long win the
gOvernment-the people-continue TO allow few
| to gamble In the hte-blocd OF the common people
sut sI new government by taking hold Of ,I the
affairs OF the Government and effect q restoration
OF the rights OF the people.
Chicago Times, that 'Siatung guns with brave
men behind them are the true remedy about
al these strike troubles, Mr.. Powderly says:
sbe CAREFUL Workingmen who hint at force or
the OF explosives are called anarchists and tho
paper that is published by the grace OF Armour
should not talk so recklessly about indiscrim-
mate use OF firearms Remember, that ff the day
arrives when the dispute between labor and cap
strikers TO handle arms than men 10 oppose them"
Hard ON the Reporter.
From the Lucknow Express
At one OF the salvation Army meetings q MIA
Colonel Something asked q young man present u
he had been converted. He replied laconically,
s.pm q reporter" and she left him. This anecdote
shows not only how desperately bad the reporters
are supposed TO be. but how they regard them
selves.
Another story is repeated without any resent
ment by the gentleman at whose expense IL is told
criminal was on the scanold, about 10 be ex-
ecuted. He said goodbye TO the minister and the
prison governor, and shook hands with the eNecu-
TONER. But TO the reporters he merely nodded,
Army SYSTEMS I'm Europe.
Labouchere In London Truth
have been misunderstood about my proposals